Vela’s fleet feet led to stints with Raiders, Gunslingers

David Vela, a 1979 Burbank graduate, is among seven honorees inducted to the SAISD Athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 25 at the Alamo Convocation Center.

David Vela, a 1979 Burbank graduate, is among seven honorees inducted to the SAISD Athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 25 at the Alamo Convocation Center.

Photo: San Antonio Independent School District

Photo: San Antonio Independent School District

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David Vela, a 1979 Burbank graduate, is among seven honorees inducted to the SAISD Athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 25 at the Alamo Convocation Center.

David Vela, a 1979 Burbank graduate, is among seven honorees inducted to the SAISD Athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 25 at the Alamo Convocation Center.

Photo: San Antonio Independent School District

Vela’s fleet feet led to stints with Raiders, Gunslingers

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Making his debut with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1983, David Vela didn’t have to wait long for his first real brush with NFL greatness.

Tied 23-23 in overtime of a preseason home game against the San Francisco 49ers, the Raiders called a fourth-down pass for the undrafted rookie wide receiver. That’s when a future Pro Football Hall of Fame safety left a bone-jarring impression.

“They told (quarterback) Jim Plunkett, ‘Let’s go ahead and hit David on a slant (pattern),’ ” said Vela. “They said he’ll catch the ball, and we’ll make a first down, kick a field goal, and win the game. Sure enough, I caught it and the guy who hit me was Ronnie Lott.”

Vela, whose tough reception against Lott helped the Raiders seal a 26-23 victory, will be among seven honorees inducted to the SAISD Athletic Hall of Fame on Aug. 25 at the Alamo Convocation Center. The 1979 Burbank graduate will join Fennis Dembo, Tai Dillard, Dolores “Delo” Dyer, Darryl Grant, Cliff Johnson and Julius Whittier in the Class of 2018.

In 1978, Vela starred as an All-City performer on the only 10-0 district championship team in Burbank history. The Bulldogs, coached by Jerry Janert, suffered their only loss to Churchill in the first round of the playoffs.

“Going undefeated was kind of the goal for us,” said Vela, 58. “We had camaraderie, and we played together as a team. Not one person was saying, ‘Give me the ball or throw me the ball.’ Our coaches were a big reason for that.”

Vela, who also excelled as a sprinter in track, did it all for Burbank. Not only was he the Bulldogs’ go-to receiver on offense, but he also started at defensive back and served as the place-kicker, punter and kick returner.

“I was never on the sideline,” said Vela, who now works as an assistant coach at Holy Cross. “I can’t recall them ever pulling me out. To this day, I’m like, ‘How did I do it?’ ”

Playing for legendary coach Jim Wacker at Southwest Texas State, Vela helped the Bobcats claim a pair of NCAA Division II championships in ’81 and ’82 and earned Little All-American honors both seasons. He still ranks among the Bobcats’ career receiving leaders — third in yards (2,110), eighth in catches (101) and third in touchdowns (17) from 1979-82.

Vela was blessed with the opportunity to finish his career in the same place he started — at Alamo Stadium.

In 1984, he joined the San Antonio Gunslingers for their inaugural spring season in the United States Football League. The Gunslingers played their home games at the revered SAISD facility where Vela had been a standout for Burbank.

“I never even knew about any hall of fames growing up,” said Vela, who was selected to the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. “In high school, I just wanted to play sports. When me and my (two) brothers would go out and play (football) in the street or play on the grass, we never knew that one of us would actually make it to the highest level.”

For more: Tickets cost $25 each or a table of eight for $200. For tickets, sponsorship information, eligibility requirements and nomination form, call 210-554-2655 or go online at www.saisd.net/athletichalloffame2018.

Facts: The SAISD Athletic Hall of Fame, established in 2014 and chosen annually by a committee, recognizes past district graduates for exceptional sports achievements or program contributions. The SAISD Hall of Fame Wall, featuring bronze plaques of all those enshrined, is located on the visitors side of Alamo Stadium.